Editorial: Towns send clear message: Slow down

Jack Curtis was trying to send a message and he did it the best way he knew how: He paid for a billboard in a small Texas Panhandle town and chastised the town’s leaders for setting up a so-called “speed trap.”

Curtis was the subject recently of a column by the Amarillo Globe-News’ Jon Mark Beilue, who reported the man was steamed over getting a speeding ticket in Estelline, a town of 105 residents — and with a reputation as a place where one should beware of a patrolling police cruiser looking for speeders.

Actually, Curtis’ message zooms right past a critical point. It is that to avoid getting caught in Estelline — or any other small Texas Panhandle community — motorists can do a simple thing: Follow the rules.

The billboard stands along U.S. Highway 287. It features a Barney Fife-like caricature and says: “Warning! Estelline is a speed trap! Barney has zero tolerance: Ticket every time! Help support this sign!”

Pretty clever, right?

Well, Estelline is no different from any of the towns that dot the Panhandle. The city sets speed limits on the highways running through town. Motorists aren’t surprised when they drive into Estelline. The speed limit signs are highly visible on both sides of the town limits. They instruct motorists that reduced speeds are required ahead.

Then the slower-speed signs are posted for all motorists to see.

Then it falls on the motorist to (a) obey the sign or (b) ignore it.

If you obey the speed limit, you’ll have nothing to worry about. If you ignore it, well, then the town’s version of Officer Friendly will be on your tail.

These are simple rules of the road. Estelline might have the speed trap reputation. But like any rural community in the Panhandle or anywhere in America, it deserves to insist that passing motorists obey the rules.